Modern Vespa

I have a fairly consistent morning commute.

Sure, there are rare days when I leave early to make a meeting, or late because of responsibilities at home. And once or twice a month I head west (instead of south) for meetings at my company's headquarters.

But for the most part, I leave within a 30 minute window on most days.

There's another scooterist who has a similarly predictable morning routine. He rides a non-descript black and silver Asian maxi-scooter (SYM, Kymco...?), wears a black full face helmet and black/gray riding jacket... and he rides north each morning at about the same time that I am heading south.

For the past few years this scooterist and I have passed each other most mornings somewhere between the mixed (Israeli / Palestinian) city of Hebron and the Palestinian village of Beit Ummar; which are about 20 minutes apart on the twisty road we both travel.

I had no idea where he was coming from or traveling to. All I knew is that I had never seen him further south than Hebron or further north than Beit Ummar. I didn't even know if he was a Palestinian or Israeli. And he was presumably similarly ignorant of who I was, where I was coming from or going to.

All I knew is that whenever / wherever we passed each other on that twisty stretch of road, we always waved to each other.

I can't even remember when we started exchanging this daily greeting or who made the first gesture. All I know is that Powered Two Wheelers are so ubiquitous here in Israel that scooterists and motorcyclists don't usually wave at one another, unless they are friends. So this daily greeting was notable for being out of the ordinary.

There was one memorable incident a little over a year ago when I thought I had finally met the mystery waver with the opposite commute to my own:

I was on my way to work at a lonely point in my commute where it would be normal to encounter the other rider, when I noticed a maxi-scooter pulled over on the opposite shoulder with the rider standing next to it. The color of the scoot, helmet and jacket all matched what I remembered... so I did a quick U-turn to introduce myself and to see if everything was alright.

The rider - a twenty-something Arab - was very pleased that I'd stopped. He explained, in accented Hebrew, that he'd picked up a nail in his front tire. I always have a patch kit (sticky string & CO2 cartridges as well as spray foam), with me, so together we got to work and quickly sorted his problem.

But while we worked together to fix the flat, I couldn't get a sense if this was the mystery waver or not. He was friendly and chatty...but I couldn't tell if it was because of our 'history' or if he was just really happy that someone had stopped to help. When we were saying our good-byes I dropped a broad hint by saying "Looking forward to waving at you", but his response of "Yes, yes... see you", could just have easily meant he did or didn't get the wave reference.

The question was answered a few minutes later when I was back on the road when I saw another maxi scooter come around a curve up ahead towards me, and I received the familiar wave from the rider.

So as I said, this nearly daily greeting ritual has gone on for almost three years now... with neither of us having any clue who the other is, where the other is coming from or going to.

Until, that is, this past Friday.

I had done much of the weekend shopping in Jerusalem's 'Machane Yehuda' market. But on my way home my wife called to tell me about a few more things we needed. I told her I'd drop off what I had at home and then go to the local supermarket to get whatever else we needed.

After unloading my scooter at home, I rode over to the Rami Levi supermarket which is about ten minutes south of where we live.

I don't recall if I've ever mentioned Rami Levi here before... but this particular supermarket is a model of cooperation and coexistence which the media will never mention. The management, employees and customers of this large modern supermarket are a fairly even mix of Palestinians and Israelis. And despite whatever feelings/political baggage any of the managers, staff and shoppers might have in their personal lives... the atmosphere inside the store is as relaxed and cordial as in any big supermarket anywhere in the world.

But back to the story...

When I came out of the store with my shopping cart full of purchases, I noticed that there was another scooter parked next to mine with the owner still sitting astride it. The rider had on a gray and black riding jacket... and a black full face helmet hung from one of the grips.

When he saw me start loading my groceries into the saddlebags on my red Vespa, he jumped off his scooter and with a big grin on his face, walked over and extended his hand.

We shook hands and clapped each other on the shoulder with hands that had exchanged anonymous waves for the last three years. We couldn't spend too much time catching up since I had some passion fruit sorbet in my saddlebags melting in the 90F+ afternoon heat. But we chatted long enough to exchange phone numbers and for each of us to tell the other where we live (he's from Hebron) and where our daily commute takes us.

And that was enough.

There isn't a scooter 'scene' here as there is in other places where I could ever see us going out for recreational rides together. And to be honest I can barely find the time to get together with the friends I already have.

But I'm glad I got to meet the guy with whom I've exchanged 'the daily wave'. He seems like a good person, and I know if either of us is ever stuck out on the road anywhere between our respective homes... there's someone who is just a phone call away, and who is bound to come along and lend a hand.

excellent. Glad you could finally meet up with the mystery rider.

8) Cool

Nice story, as usual.

Great story! Proving once again that, for the most part, "people is people" where ever you find them.

So who was the other guy?

I just love cliffhangers.

I told you... the guy I helped with the flat was just some random scooterist.

Yesbut yesbut yesbut. Who WAS he...

We gotta have a "Wave' part deux.

We're waiting.

Do you write stories for a living..

I love your posts Trepp. They're so warm....

No, I live stories, which sometimes gives me things to write about.

If Frank R. Stockton was alive today, would you ask him which door the guy chose in his short story 'The Lady, or the Tiger?'?

The point is it doesn't matter who the guy is in real life that waves to me most mornings on my commute. I shared the post so YOU might spend a couple of minutes thinking about who he is, and what kind of person extends such a regular courtesy/greeting to a total stranger over the course of three+ years.

That we might be from different cultures/camps is interesting to contemplate, no?

Knowing might ruin that. Might.

That's what a good old m8 of mine always says, or at least something in that line.
"Living creates memories and you need to keep making fresh memories".

I rather spend my time (and money for that mater) on experiences then on goods and goody's.

That was fun to read, Treppe. Thank you Very much for that.

I used to know a Pakistani by the name of Tokir who had an awesome '84 CB750. He told me about the wonderful rides he and his friends took back home. The places and the times.

You reminded me of a great friend I had during a memorable time in my life. I hope he's doing well.

Harv

Awesome! I've found I meet the nicest people when I'm on my Vespa! Great community of people!

What a wonderful story!
I was thinking there was going to be a romantic lean to it.
Such a great tale of fraternity!
One of the reasons I enjoy riding so much.

Ha! I think my wife might have a thing or two to say about one of my scooter stories having a romantic ending.

Not that I'm looking for trouble, mind you, but considering that 'wave' wseems ot have been the word that targeted for the lock today, I'm relieved this thread escaped MVBot's evil ministrations.

I have have a similar relationship with a rider I see 2x per day on our respective commutes...although he's on a gorgeous red/white Triumph Thruxton, he seems perfectly happy to recognize me as we pass going opposite directions. Someday, we may meet.

I loved the story and the great decriptions of your grocery shopping, your wife must be very happy!
Glad you got to turn your wave into a real hand shake nice to know some one is looking out for you.

Yet another good story, Trepp. Nice to hear your telling.

Aaand, about the only waving thread I wanted to see today

As always, Trep, your stories have an epic flavor to them. They always make me smile and brighten my day. Thanks for sharing!

Glad you finally got a chance to meet the guy after so many years, and that he turned out to be such a cool dude!

Mark

Thank you. Would buy you a beer (or two) if I could.

I look forward to living my own scooter stories. Today a coworker from Vietnam saw me arrive on my scooter. He stopped to tell me about scooters in Vietnam. I smile when I ride and it seems like I see other people smile at my scooter.

Great story as always Trepp.

Just as a side did you give a low or a high wave?

Somewhere between a low and mid-wave.